Socket



Get. 6, 1936. B, GROUT 2,056,268

SOCKET Filed Jan. 29, 19,2

ZZZ/17701? 275F722? 5.5227112 Patented Oct. 6, 1936 PATENT o'FFicE SOCKET Martin B. Grout, Chicago, 111., assignor to Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 29, 1926, Serial No. 84,583

8 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) This invention relates to improvements in socketsfand particularly to sockets designed'to receive the bases of audion or vacuum tubes.

In sockets of this character it has been found desirable to provide means to resiliently support the socket from the base whereby jars and vibrations will be absorbed to a. great extent. These jars and vibrations, which it is desired to overcome, may take place in any direction. .10 The object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of a tube socket provided with resilientsupporting means permitting a yielding movement of the socket in all directions.

It is believed the further disclosure of the invention will be understood more readily from a detailed descriptionthereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the socket;

Fig. 2 is a view similarto Fig. 1, with the top of the socket cut away;

Fig. 3 is a side view'of the socket;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the socket, and Y, 7

Fig.5 is a perspective view of one of the supporting springs detached from the socket.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference characters indicate the same parts in the several views, l0 is'the base formed of some suitable insulating material and provided with holes I! for the reception of screws by means of which the base may be secured to the mounting board. The base Ill will preferably be provided with the depression or recess l2 on the mounting board side thereof and centrally of the face with the opening 13.

The base l0 may be substantially octagonal in shape, as indicated in the drawing, or may be circular, or may be any desired form. The upper or outer surface of the base ID will preferably be substantially flat, except it will be provided adjacent to the edge thereof with the substantially semi-circular depressions l5. Secured to the base It by means of the screws l6 and nuts ll are the ends of the helical springs I8. Each of these springs will preferably terminate in a soldering terminal IS. The innermost turn of each of the springs l8 terminates in a laterally extending portion and an upwardly extending portion 2 l having the inwardly converging contact arms 22. The portion 20 will preferably be integral with the spring it, although, it may be fixed thereto in any desired manner so long as it is electrically connected therewith.

The tube socket, in the present embodiment of the invention, is preferably saucer-shaped in cross section, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and is provided centrally with the inwardly extending threaded portion 24 which receives the threaded end of the screw 25 provided with a head 26.

The upwardly extending portions 2!, carried by 7 each of the springs l8, are adapted to be secured within the rim 2'! of the socket 23 by means of rivets 28.

The outer face of the socket 23 is provided H with a plurality of openings 29, immediately under which are positioned the contact arms or springs 22. The openings 29 are adapted toreceive the contact pins projecting from the bases of audion tubes, the inner end of each pin being arranged to resiliently enter between a pair of contact springs 22, whereby firm wiping contact is made. In forcing the contact pins of the tube into the openings 29 of the socket, the socket will be forced down against the base. Upon withdrawing the terminal pins of the tube from the openings 29 of the socket, the head of screw 26 will engage the under-side of the base and limit the outer movement of the socket member 23. The contact arms 22' not only complete the electricalcircuit but also act firmly to hold the i' the tube socket. Also means other than the pair of contact arms shown may be provided for making electrical engagement with the projecting ends of the contact pins of the tubes. As a matter of fact, the present manner of resiliently supporting the tube socketfor universal movement may be applied to tube sockets differing entirely in detail from that herein shown.

It is well understood that the various jars and vibrations which injuriously affect the operation of a radio tube may take place in any direction, either vertically, laterally or diagonally. The present expedient of providing a plurality of convolute springs between the base and the socket supplies a supporting means which permits yielding movement in any and all directions between the base and the socket.

While four supporting springs are shown in the drawing, but three springs need be supplied to secured to said downwardly extending portion and abutting said base at one extreme end of the travel of said socket, and a plurality of springs;

each having a convolute portion and having one end secured to said base and the other end secured to said socket whereby said socket is yield ingly supported from said base to move in either a vertical or horizontal direction, anda pair of flexible contact arms carried by each of said springs and extending at an angle to said springs.

2. In combination, a tube socket having a downwardly extending portion, a base for said socket, means extending through said base, secured to said downwardly extending portion and abutting said base at one extreme end of the travel of said socket, and a plurality of convolute springs substantially equidistantly spaced about said socket, each of said springs having one end secured to said base and the other end secured to said socket wherebysaid socket is yieldingly supported from said base, and a pairof flexible contact arms carried by each of said springs and extending sidewise from said convolute portion of said springs.

3. In combination, a tube socket having a downwardly extending portion, a base for said socket, means extending thru said base andsecured to said downwardly extending portion and abutting said base at one extreme end of the travel of said socket, and a plurality of helical springs, each of said springs having one end secured to said base and the other end secured to said socket whereby said socket is yieldingly supported from said base, and a pair of flexible contact arms carried by each of said springs and extending sidewise from said helical portion of said springs.

4. In combination, a tube socket having a downwardly extending portion, a base: for said socket, means extending thru said base and secured to said downwardly extending portion and abutting said base at one extreme end of the travel of said socket, a plurality of springs, each of said springs having a convolute portion and an inclined raised portion and having one end secured to said base and having said inclined raised portion secured to said socket, whereby said socket is yieldingly supported to move in any direcwardly extending rim, whereby said socket is sup- "ported from said base and free to move in various directions, and a spring contact arm integral with each of said springs and in a different verticaliplane arranged to engage a contact pin of a tube placed in said socket.

' '6. In combination a tube socket provided with a .downwardly extending rim, a base for said socket, a plurality of springs each having a helical portion, each of said springs having one end secured to said base, an outwardly extending portion atthe other end of each of said springs, means for securing said outwardly extending portions to. the said rim of said socket, said socket being provided with a plurality of openings to re- .ceive the terminal contact pins of tubes associated therewith, a contact arm carried by each spring within said socket and in a different vertical plane than said helical portion and arranged. below the said openings, respectively, whereby electrical engagement is made with the contact pins of tubes placed in said socket.

'7. In combination, a tube socket provided with .adownwardly extending rim, a base for said socket, a plurality of helical springs, each of said springs having one end secured to said base, an outwardly extending portion at the other end of each of said springs, means for securing said outwardly extending portions to the said rim of said socket, said socket being provided with a plurality of openings to receive the terminal contact pins of. tubes associated therewith, a pair of spaced contact arms integral with each spring and .in a different vertical plane than said spring placed within said socket and arranged below the said openings, respectively, whereby electrical engagement is made with the contact pins of tubes placed in said socket.

8. A receptacle for receiving a delicate electrical device, said receptacle having a downward- .ly extending rim,means comprising a plurality of helical springs each having a contact arm in a dififerent vertical plane than said spring and secured to said downwardly extending rim for supporting said receptacle so that it may move either sidewise or vertically.-

. MARTIN B. GROUT. 

